miles



I. F. NlLES.

TRiPPlNG MECHANISM FOR OFFSET MACHINES. APPLICATION min use. 30. \912.

1 1 93,045 Patented Aug. 1, 19$.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

INVENTOR.

wnuzsszs. i 5140 Aug, M & 4M

I. F. NlLES. TRIPPING MECHANISM FOR OFFSET MACHINES. APPLiCAHON FILED DEC. 30. 1912.

1 ,1 93,045. Patented Aug. 1, 191

. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES. INVENTOR.

y 4 Q I24 4% I. F NILES. e MECHANISM FOR OFFSET MACHINES.

APPUCAHON HLED DEC- 30, \QIZ' 1 ,1 93,045. Patented Aug. 1,1916.

4 SHEETS-$HEET 3- TRIPPIN wlrnzssss. mvcu'ron.

I. F. NILES. TRIPPING MECHANSM FOR OFFSET MACHKNES.

APPLlCATlON FILED M1030. l9\2. 1 493,045. Patented Aug, 1,1916.

4 SHEETS-$HEET 4.

INVENTOR ATT'Y:

. known as transfer or offset machines.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IRVING F. NILES, OF ILAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO R. HOE AND CO., OF

' NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

.TRIPPING MECHANISM FOR OFFSET-MACHINES.

Application filed December 30, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IRVING ,F. NILES, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Ilainfield, county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain,new and useful mprovements in. Tripping Mechanism for-Offset-Machines, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to improvements in printing machines and has been designed for use particularly in that class of'machinIes n this type of machine, the impression to be printed is taken from a form member onto a transfer member and printed between the transfer member and an impression mem' her. It is desirable in this type of printing machine that these members during the printing operation be in continuousprint- 111g relation. For various reasons, however,

as in inking up, a missed sheet or a broken web, it becomes necessary to break the print ing relation between the form and transfer members, or the transfer member and impression member, or the relation between all three members. It has been proposed to eccentrically mount the impression member and trip or throw that member out of print ing relation with the transfer mer nber. It has further been proposed to eccentrically mount the transfer member and trip it out of printing relation with the impression member. Certain disadvantages are present in such constructions. If thesimpression member is tripped the first sheet fed to the press is always out-*of'register. Q'If the eccentric-ally mounted transfer 'member is tripped, it is necessary that it be either in or out of printing 'i ela'tion with both the form and impression cylinders, with then-esult that during inking up there is back printing on the impression cylinder, which to be avoided necessitates a considerable waste of paper. 1

It is the especial object of the present invention to provide a transfer or offset press in which the form and impression cylinders may be stationarily mounted and in whichthe transfer cylinder is mounted so that it can be operated by independent sliding movements, as distinguished from eccentric movements and in different directions, whereby the transfer cylinder may be Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 1,1916.

Serial No. 739,224.

the three cylinders then continuing in printing relation; or may be tripped from printmg relation with the impression cylinder and remain in such relation with the form cylinder; or tripped from contact with the form cylinder and remain in printing relation with the impression cylinder, the transfer and impression cylinders then continuing in printing relation during the printing operation.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved construction for tripping the transfer member to the various po- SltlOIlS it is to assume.

These objects are effected by novel constructions, a detailed description of which will now be given in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which.-

Figure l is a side elevation of a transfer press embodying the invention, the parts being shown in printing relation, and just prior to tripping the transfer cylinder ofi' impression; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing the parts in the position they assume when the transfer cylinder is out of printing relation with the impression cylinder, but in contact with the form cylinder, and just prior to tripping on impression; Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a plan view partly in section taken on line 44 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to these drawings, the machine which has been taken to illustrate the invention is a rotary machine, the printing members of which are cylinders. In this machine 1 is the form or plate cylinder with which cooperate the usual inking rolls 2 and likewise stationarily mounted on a shaft 8.

suitably journaled in the frame of the machine. These cylinders are intergeared and are driven from a suitable source ofpower as is well understood, the gearing not being shown, as it is unnecessary for an -understanding of the invention.

transfer cylinder will be mounted so that it can be given two independent and successive sliding movements, and thus thrown into printing relation with the form cylinder for inking up, and then, when suitably inked, thrown into printing relation with the impression cylinder, the three cylinders then movement beinga sliding movement.

continuing in printing relation. Furthermore, and in the best constructions, the

transfer cylinder will be so mounted as to have a certain vertical and sidewise ad ust.-

ing movement, whereby its printing contact with the form and impression cylinder may be varied. This construction is important in that it allows the impression cylinder to be stationarily mounted, so that no'adjustment of it is necessary, and so that the grippers when once set can be held in set position. Furthermore, in the best constructions, the transfer cylinder is mounted in substantially vertical alinement with the form cylinder, and in substantially horizontal alincment with the impression cylinder. In the construction illustrated, the transfer cylinder is mounted on zishaft 9 which is journaled in a pair of, floating boxes 10. These boxes are supported so that they have a sufficient vertical and horizontal movement to allow the transfer cylinder to be thrown out of printing relation with both the form and impression cylinders, this The construction. and means for supporting these boxes may be varied. As illustrated, the boxes 10 are flanged, as at 11, on three sides, these flanges fitting on the frame '7 as shown in Fig. The boxes 10 are supported so as to have vertical. movement to bring them into and out of printing relation with the form cylinder by a yoke 12 fittingvaround the frame and taking over the lower edges of the flanges 11, as shown in Fig. 2. The lower end of this yoke is provided with a boss 13 from which project forked arms 14 which it about a shaft 15 suitably journaled in the frame of the machine, these forked arms 14 acting as guides and tending to keep the parts in alineme'nt. The underside of the boss cut and has fitted therein one end of a link 16 which takes about a pin 17 passing through the boss, the other end of the link .16 taking into a groove cut in. the shaft 1-3. The shaft 15 is provided at one end with an operating handle 18. This construction forms. in effect, a toggle, and by rotating the shaft 15 through handle 18; the toggle made or broken and the journals boxes raised or lowered, resting preferably, when in lowered position, on the frame. In the best-poiatructions'the journals of shaft 15 are mourn-ed to be adjustable ertically, whereby the contact between transfer cylinder and the form cylinder may be varied as desired. In the construction illuv 7O lVith the construction so far described, it

will be seen that the transfer cylinder may be manually operated .to be brought into printing relation with the form cylinder for inking up. The transfer cylinder is at this.

time, however, outof printing relation with the impression cylinder. When the printing operation is to take place, the transfer cylinder is given a second movement to throw it into printing relation with, the impression cylinder. In the best constructions, this movement is automatically effected by the 7 operation of the machine, being preferably accomplished by the feeding of the first sheet to the press, through a suitable sheet" detector. Any suitable sheet detector mechanism may be employed for this purpose, a convenient one being that shownin my copending application Serial No. 685,246, filed March 21, 1912, to which reference should be made for a full description. This mechanism may, however, be briefly described as follows: As shown in this application, there is provided a circular fixed cam located at ,one end of the impression cylinder 5 and 5 having a depression 7 6. This cam is engaged by a cam roll 77 on an arm 78 fast on a rock shaft 79 journaled inthe impression cylinder 5. Thisrock shaft 79 has one or more arms 80, on which are carried spring pressed detector fingers or plungers 81. Fulcrumed to the machine at 82 is a power arm 83 which is continuously oscillated by a cam 84 on the shaft 6 of the impression cylinder,

the cam bearing against a roll 85 on the arm 05 88. At the end 85 ofthe power arm isfulcrumed a lever 86 which is attached'at its outer end to a rod 21 through which, as hereinafter described, the transfer cylinder is tripped and untripped. Upon the frame at 87 is fulcrumed a spring pressed pawl 88 having a tail 89 located adjacent the cam depression 76, before referred to, and adapted to be actuated by the cam-roll 77; Vihen no sheet is being fed, the plungers 81 are projected into the sheet path and, through the connections described, cause the cam roll v to engage with the tail 89 of the spring pressed pawl 88 and cause the pawl to engage with the end of the lever 88 before referred to, and thus actuate the rod 21, through connections hereinafter described, to trip the transfer cylinder 01f impression. Vtith the mechanism just' described, when a sheet is fed in. the rod .21 is released and drops, allowing the pawl 29 to drop and the pawl SS-follows and assumes the position where on the next rotation of the cam 44 the shoulder 36 of the. pawl 35 engages with the pin 37 and, through the connections beon impression, as hereinafter described.

The construction of the tripping mechanism may be somewhat varied. In the best constructions, and as illustrated, where the impression member is a cylinder, the tripping mechanism will be operated from such cylinder. Referring to Fig. 2, there is provided a rod '21 operated by the detector mechanism. The rod 21 is secured at one end to the arm 22 of a lever fulorumed at 23 on a pin in the frame of the machine. The long arm 24 of the lever carries at its free end an eye 25, through which passes a rod 26 around which is arranged a spring 27 abutting against the eye and an adjustable collar 28 on the rod. This rod is secured to a pawl 29 pivoted at 30 to one arm 31 of a sector lever 32 pivoted on a stud 33 in the frame of the machine. Pivoted on the other arm of the sector at 34 is secured a second pawl 35. These pawls 29 and 35 have near their outer ends shoulders 36 against which is adapted to abut a pin 37 carried on the end-0f a cam lever 38 pivoted on a stud 39 in the frame of the machine. This cam lever carries a cam roll 40 which bears against acam' 44 carried on the shaft 6 of the impression cylinder. The pin 37 is extended beyond the pawls (see Fig. 4) and has fast thereon one end of a rod 42, which passes through an eye 43 on the stud 33 before referred to. A spring 44 is arranged about this rod, taking against the eye 43 and an adjustable collar 45 on' the rod. The pawls 29 and 35 are kept apart, so that the pin 37 can pass between them, by means of a projection 46 on thelower pawl. The pawls operate the sector to trip the cylinder 4, through suitable connections hereinafter described. In the construction illustrated, the lower pawl 29 acts to trip the cylinder off impression and the upper pawl 35 acts to trip on impres sion, being actuated by the connections leading to the sheet detector mechanism, a sheet fed in. the machine causing the parts to throw on, and a missed sheet to throw off. The springs 27, 44 assist the pawls in taking these various operative positions.

The means actuated by the movement of the sector to trip the cylinder may be varied.

. These means will, in the best constructions,

include a shaft 48 extending across the machine, suitably journaled in the frame thereof, and connections from the shaft to the cylinder on each side of the machine. As these connections are duplicates, a description of them on one side of the machine only will be given. In the preferred construction, the shaft 48 has secured thereto a pinion 48 with which the sector 32 meshes. This pinion carries a crank pin 49 to which is secured a link 50 which is fast on one arm 51 of a'bell crank lever keyed a an eccentric pin 52 which bears against the journal box 10. Cooperatin with eccentric pin 52 isa link 55, one en of which fits around pin 52 and at the other bears against a pin 56 suitably mounted in a slot in the frame. This construction in effect forms a toggle,

which when moved by rocking lever arms 51 to the position shown in Fig. 1 trips "the cylinder on impression and holds it in printing relation with the impression cylinder. In the best constructions, the toggle 1s made and the cylinder tripped against the compression of a spring 53, Fig. 4) set in a slot in the frame and bearing against the 'ournal box 10, and a plate 53, this plate eing adjusted and the compression of the spring adjusted by a screw 54. The spring 53 acts, when the toggle is broken, tb throw the transfer cylinder outof printing relation with the impression cylinder.

In the best constructions, means will be provided for adjusting the transfer cylinder sidewise toward the impression cylinder to' vary the printing contact. As illustrated an adjusting screw 57 is provided which bears against pin 56, which may thus be adjusted in its slot, and the printing contact of cylinder 4 varied.

It will be understood that the invention has been shown and described in what is considered its best form. Changes and variations may be made, however, in thespecific construction shown and described, without departing from the invention, and it is not, therefore to be restricted tosuch specific construction.

What is claimed is 1. In a printing machine, the combinameans for thereafter operating the boxes for bringing the transfer member into printing relation with the impression member, the three members then continuing in printing relation.

2. In a printing machine,- the combination with a form cylinder and an impression cylinder, of a transfer cylinder mounted in vertical alinement with the form cylinder and in horizontal alinement with the im pression cylinder, and means for moving the transfer cylinder in straight lines into printing relation with the form cylinder and then lnto'printing relation with the impression cylinder, the cylinders then continuing in printing relation.

3. In a printing machine, the combination with a form cylinder and a stationary impression cylinder, of a transfer cylinder mounted in vertical alinement with the form cylinder, and means for giving a straight boxes a sliding movement to bring the transfer cylinder into printing relation with the form cylinder, and means operated by he material fed for automatically giving the transfer cylinder a second sliding movement to bring it in printing relation with the impression cylinder.

which the shaft is mounted, a pair of tripping pawls, a sector operated by the pawls,

connections from the sector whereby the boxes are moved to bring the transfer cylin- 60 der in printing relation with the impression cylinder, said connectidns including a toggle, and compression springs acting when the toggle is broken to throw the transfer cylinder out of printing relation with the printing cylinder. p 9. In a printing machine, the combination with a form cylinder and a stationary impression cylinder, of a transfer cylinder, a

shaft therefor, a pair of floating journal 70 boxes in which the shaft is mounted arranged to have a sliding movement vertically and horizontally, a toggle forimoving .stantially vertical alinement with the form 5. In a printing machine, the combination with stationary form and impression cyhn ders, of a transfer cylinder mounted in subthe boxes vertically, a second toggle for moving the boxes horizontally, and means ,7,5 for adjusting the throw of each of the? toggles. I i j 10. In a printing press, the combination with a form cylinder and an impression cylinder, of a transfer cylinder and means for 80 cylinder, a shaft for the transfer cylinder, a pair of floating journal boxes inwhich the shaft is mounted, a-rock shaft, toggles between the rock shaft and the boxes, Joy making and breaking which the boxes are given a vertical sliding movement, and means for" operating the rock shaft.

' 6. In a printing machine, the combination with stationary form and impression cylinders, of a transfer cylinder, a shaft therefor, a pair of journal boxes for the shaft mounted to be given a sliding movement in two directions, a toggle mechanism for sliding the boxes vertically to bring'the transfer cylinder into and out of printing relation with the form cylinder, and a toggle mechanism for sliding the boxes horizontally to bring the transfer cylinder into printing relation withv the impression cylinder, and means for operating the toggles.

7. In a printing press, the combination with a form cylinder and a stationary impression cylinder, of a transfer cylinder, a shaft therefor, sliding journal boxes in which the shaft is mounted, means for sliding the boxes to bring the transfer cylinder in printing relation with the form cylinder, means operating to move and hold the transfer cylinder in printing relation with the inipression cylinder, and compression springs against which the cylinder so moved.

8. In a printing machine, the combination with the form cylinder and a pression cylinder, cf a t re" shaft therefor, sliding .jra

tion with the impression cylinder.

giving the transfer cylinder two independent straight line movements, to first bring the cylinder into printing relation with the form cylinder, and thereafter with the imgession cylinder, these three cylinders then c ntinning in printing relation. 7

11. In a printing machine, the combine tion with a form cylinder and impression cylinder, of a transfer cylinder, a shaft therefor, sliding journal boxes in which the shaft is mounted, a pair of tripping pawls,

a sector operated by the pawls, toggles for sliding the boxes operated by the sector, and means for adjus ing the throw of the toggles.

12. In a printing machine, the combination with a form cylinder and an impression cylinder, of a transfer cylinder, means for giving the transfer cylinder a straight line movement to bring it into printing relation with the form cyl nder, and means operated by the material fed for automatically giving the transfer cylinder a second straight line movement to bring it into printing rela- In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

IRVING F. Nines.

a: liELLY, e. at. ll. Jenner? 

